Fed Up

Frustrated, anxious, stressed, worried, fearful, man what else... since the day or 2 after the storm I have been all of the above and more. We have moved our belongings all over the place and torn out all the walls that were saturated and moldy. Just in cast they decide to rebuild. My hope is they don't. We would never be able to afford it. Since Katrina, our flood insurance went up $400 and now with a direct hit, we wouldn't be able to get insurance unless it's way high. The complex is over 40 years old and to fix it would cost more than just to tear it down and sell the property. Just say a quick prayer that it will all work out. I know God is in control, and His way is not my way, but I'm getting so impatient and I'm on the verge of tears 24/7. I am trying to be strong but my faith is weak. I know it will all work out, but starting over is scaring me to death. Not having a home is beyond stressful. If you know me, having my stuff scattered from here to Kingdom Come is driving me crazy! I am a neat and organized person and I am not that way at the moment. Waiting on Flippin FEMA to reassess our case file so we can get some cash and get a place. We have a nibble on a house but can't move forward until we have a bit of money. At least Trey had school all week and had some kind of normal. Except that we had to get up at the crack of dawn to get him there since we are 30 minutes from where were were and it's another 30 minutes to school from home. I'm still around, don't have my own computer yet, don't have a plcae to plug it in, so I'm not ignoring you if you have emailed me, I just can't get those yet. You can email me at kstrat33@yahoo.com and I can check those! I miss all of my blog sisters and what is going on in your lives. Hopefully soon I can get back! Hugs from here. Oh and I got a new link for more pics if you're interested. They are from a few days after Ike and taken from the water in Clear Lake . For you out of towners the towns are League City , Clear Lake Shores , Kemah, Seabrook, El Lago... all Texas of course. Clear Lake is one of the top three areas for privately owned yachts and water craft in the nation.
Clear Lake pics

Now I know what HELL looks like

Just to let y'all know we are alive and ok. We won't have power for maybe months... even when the city is back on we won't be since most of our transformers are under water and it'll take so long to remove all the debris. First off, thank you for all the prayers, I know that is the only thing that kept me and all of my loved ones here, it was hell friends, I was beyond terrified and wasn't sure if we'd make it, seriously. We started getting wind around 8:30 pm, not bad just blowing and by 10:30 it was on... and it didn't stop until 8:30 am. It was coming thru like nothing I have heard before and imagine it is what hell sounds like. Nick has stayed at home to put more things up and decided at 11:30 to get a nap and slept thru his phone ringing, thank God the dog, our hero, licked him in the face until he woke up and when he swung his feet off the couch they were under water to his calves. He grabbed the dog and took off, he looked out the front door and my truck was up to the tailpipe in water. He decided to try to start it and it did and he got the heck outta there. But.. this was in the midst of the storm at 3:30 am. He called me and I listened to him drive to my parents and I never want to do that ever again. I was physically ill the whole time. I taked him into the driveway and I could see & feel the rain and wind finally and it stung like a thousand bees, but he had made it. We just collapsed into each others arms and cried. Thank you Jesus. He managed to get some sleep finally, but I could not. I thought the house was going to come apart and I was terrified. I had been thru Hurricane Alicia in 1983 and this was 10X worse. We never got he eye wall so it was 10 hours of 80 mph wind steady and gusting to 100. Thank God my son slept thru it, if he was awake and scared too, I wouldn't have made it. We had TV until midnight and could see what was going on by the news cast. Then when it went it was really scary. We could hear things hitting the house but not see it since all the windows were boarded up. It was the longest night of my life and I have never prayed so hard. When we were able to come out the next morning there was hardly a tree with leaves. Limbs were everywhere, trees uprooted, just trashed, but the roof was fine and all the vehicles made it. Then we went home. I'll keep this short and you can look at the pics, it is undescribable....you wouldn't believe it unless you saw it. We were lucky, we had only 10 inches after all, and all of our "stuff" most of it was already upstairs and all the boards held. But our new wood floors are ruined, furniture desks, kitchen, my drawer in my stove was full of water...I could go on, but the valuable scrapbooks and all my scrapping stuff were fine. ;) Our parking lot is supposed to be for cars, but now it is full of boats. Just go take a look at my Shutterfly and see for yourself. These are the places I could get to, I will get more today. The pavilion that sits waterfront was totally underwater and it is harly recognizable and I didn't have my camera yesterday to get pics. We have had news crews from all the local national and even Italy and the UK. I believe NBC Nightly News will be broadcasting from our place sometime, maybe tonight. They were scouting for a dry place to set up yesterday, so keep an eye out. I'm going to go for now, not sure when I can check in again, so keep praying for those we haven't heard from yet. Thanks again friends, I can't stress enough how grateful I am for all the thoughts and prayers.
Go check out the pics, there are lots (157)so beware! I'm a scrapbooker after all! Love from Texas!

Hurricane Ike 1
sorry, you have to sign in, I don't have time to jack with it, so sign in w/my stuff:
sign in txkris at comcast dot net
password 1432

It's been 2 days

Well, the weather guys said on Monday we should know better where Ike was going, well... guess what? they don't!! It is all depending on the HIGH that is floating around. Well, I like to know what I'm gonna do before I have to do it, just A+ like that... sorry. So I'm sitting here acting like it's a normal day, laundry, making muffins, cleaning a bit, scrapping some and watching the tide rise already, that is a bit unsettling. Well, that's all we can do, we're hanging in another day!
All my friends, be safe and check in soon!

Take a hike, Ike!!

I have read this on other Texan friends blogs today too, but I have to put my own on here because I think our luck has run out this year! "They" (the weather guys) say we have to wait 2 more days to kow for sure, but look where Ike is pointing!

and look where I am! (and a few of my friends, we're all labeled in red.)

not liking Ike at the moment, but will wait and see what TPTB say and start batting down the hatches in the next few days. Have plywood, have hurricane kit (thanks, Dad!) and will bug out if need be! So here are some pics from today.

out the back

from the pier by the marina, the bridge in the middle is the Kemah bridge, past that is Galveston Bay.

the pool and clubhouse. This is high tide for today. All I can do today is watch and wait! Prayers for all my Gulf Coast friends! Will post another update in the next day or so!

SITS

OK, found another site to read everyday and they are giving away a CRICUT EXPRESSION!!
Yep, how cool is that? GO check them out and leave some love!
The Secret Is In The Sauce (how cute is that name?) You can also get there by the button on my sidebar ;)

This week I was searching my photo folders and came across my parents trip to the Holy Land last year. There are plenty of critters over there, so here they are! (and my Mom who rode one!)Notice the pageant/parade wave she has going! ;)

New Hair Do's?

nevah!! well, I can't say never... because I have!! I am not worthy! These pics cracked me up, but some of them were a reality and they didn't shock me because somewhere I have pics with big hair! I'll have to find them and scan, you will see what I mean!! I saw this on Rachel's blog a few weeks ago and decided to try it, if you want to see what you look like with 50's or 60's hair, go for it and link me to it! I'd like to laugh too and not just at myself!! Thanks! Here is the direct link: Yearbook Yourself

1960
1966 - year I was born!

1968

1974 - not sure why it's so dark?

1984 - the year I graduated from HS -

this hair made me gain 50 lbs!

1988 - and I have this same do!

1990 - and this one!
1992- seriously, this has to be my Olan Mills photo!! ;)

1994 - lawsy, this one too!

1996 - now this isn't so bad...

so go play and show me your loverly styles!

Awards!

I was awarded a few, yes a few, blog awards from another blogger I so admire! (and she's a Texas girl)! I love her website and check it everyday to see if there are new posts! So, thanks Tanya! First up is this one:

Isn't she adorable!? When Tanya told the blog world she loves my blog, it was awesome! I am a newbie of sorts at the blog thing, I have been on many message boards, but never put my not-so-exciting life out there for all the world to see. Mostly I started it because a few people egged me on and it's an easy way to keep up with friends! It is fabulous to be recognized and it's going to be even more fun to introduce you to some of my faves! (BTW - you'll recognize a few, only because they are on Tanya's list too so it shows we have good taste!) If I could I'd list every blog I read daily because I love them all, but I can't do that in one sitting! So all of you listed below:

I LOVE YOU THIS MUCH!

1. Cracker Scraps - Jan, my buddy pal, sweet peach from Florida. We are online scrappin buds, ScrapJammie girls, that have gotten together every year(and then some) to scrap, laugh and eat chocolate! wub u!

2. Sitting On My Back Porch- Rachel - she is one of the ones that got me into this crazy blog world and her blog has the cutest craftiest things! Plus, she has the cutest kids that make alot of posts! Love ya girl, Cheers!

3. Julie's Life - JLB, my A+, crazy red-headed, New Yawk transplant! We have never met IRL, but I'd bet we'd be great together! Her blog is like the Weather Channel alot! She also shows off her cutie daughter too! Peace and Cheers to you too!

4. My Blogsong - Linda, she's my "old hippie" friend, her words not mine! We have never met IRL either, but one of these days! She is the Link Queen. If we ever need something, anything, Linda is the go-to gal! Cheers, hun!

5. A Day In the Life - Dana, first off, has the cutest little guy, he is the star of her blog. She is one of the best bloggers I know, posts almost everyday! I have met Dana IRL too, she's one of the ScrapJammies girls!

6. We Are THAT Family - Kristen, she's a new friend whose blog I look at everyday and can't wait to see what kind of hilarity or inspiration she has in store for me! Thanks for the daily pick me ups!

7. Forgetfulone - she is a new blog friend that is a Houston girl too and we have yet to meet, but one day! I love reading her blog because she is from around here and I recognize things in her posts and we can compare sweet teas and apple pies!!

8. My Life is Based on a True Story - D - she is also new blog friend and a Houston girl too! Maybe we'll meet and have some good apple pie with Forgetfulone! Her kids are a little older than my DS, so I get some "advice" if you will from some of her posts!

9. Mother, Daughter, Sister, Friend...Me - well, Bubba's Sis.. what can you say, she is a riot and a Houston girl. She has a son in the Naval Academy, and I think that is awesome! DH wants our son to go there... someday! It's partly her fault I do some of these Meme's...thanks! ;)

10. this is reverb - Pastor Ryan, he is awesome and probably doesn't even know I exist. But I love his blog because he's a man that isn't ashamed to tell of his love for Jesus, his wife and gorgeous daughter! He is a crazy, rocker type, cooking, tattooed, husband and father and I admire him!

Next up is a very special one! If you or anyone you know has ever thought about organ donation, and I know it's not a fun subject, but don't think about it, do it! You don't need to have perfectly good organs buried with you, you aren't using them anymore! I know two people who have received the greatest and most unselfish gifts, one a kidney and one a lung. They are living proof that this is a remarkable thing to do and the families that give are angels!

This award was created by Memoirs of a Mommy. It’s a very special award that she created in Honor Of The Donor That Saved (her son) Noah’s Life. Noah received a heart transplant, and she hopes that by passing this award around the blogosphere everyone can help raise awareness of the need for Organ Donation.
The rules of this award are: SHARE THE LOVE!!! Share this award with all those blogs out there that you love. All the people who make you smile. All those that make you laugh. All those that make your day. All those that leave uplifting comments on your blog.
**All I ask, is that you include a link to this post with the award and ask your recipients to do the same**

Again, some will look familiar! ;)

As A Parent the Days are Long...

Mother, Daughter, Sister, Friend... Me

Forgetfulone

My Life Is Based on a True Story

We Are THAT Family

and last but not least...

brilliant? me thinks not, but thanks so much! I'm passing it onto some of my blog mentors! Once again...

As A Parent the Days are Long...
Mother, Daughter, Sister, Friend... Me
Forgetfulone
My Life Is Based on a True Story
We Are THAT Family

After all that, I feel so loved and hope y'all will too! Hugs and see ya soon!

Labor fun for Labor Day

Just for fun, I thought I'd pull out this meme I found. In honor of Labor Day, it's about...well, labor. And not the kind you get a day off for, either.

How long were your labors?
14+ hours

How did you know you were in labor?
scheduled induction

Where did you deliver?
hospital

Drugs?
of course! Epidural at an 8!

C-section?
almost, I had 3 more pushes and she was gonna take him, I had been pushing for 3 hours.He was a big one!

Who delivered?
doctor

If you want to play along with this meme, just cut and paste the questions into your own blog.
Then link back to it at Rocks In My Dryer. Thanks!